Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Pilates ball, stability ball, balance ball - you can call it anything you want. The gym ball is truly an innovation. With a first look, you'd think it's just an oversized medicine ball that looks more like it belongs in a kid's play pen rather than a gym. But truth be told, it can be quite beneficial especially if you perform various gym ball exercises.

It is not just some regular beach ball filled with air. It is made from elastic PVC or polyvinyl chloride and can be as big as 85 cm. in diameter. Aside from ab workouts, the gym ball can also be used for weight training, most particularly with regards to balance. It was first called the Swiss ball back in 1963, the year that they first came into existence.

Interestingly they were invented for newborn babies as treatments. Later on, doctors saw that it can also be advantageous for treating patients with neurological issues. What made these balls different from others was that they have stronger elastic coverings that don't easily get penetrated by any sharp objects. This is done in order to support any kind of weight that may be pressed unto it.

These days, they are considered a staple in fitness centers. The best athletes in the world use them in their exercises. And they have all been proven effective, whether it's for their core or their explosive intensity. It's quite appalling to think that something as simple as this can be very effective. To further elaborate on this, here are some of the advantages of using them.

Targets the Right Areas

Have you seen people use gym balls? If you have, you may have noticed that these balls tend to put an individual in awkward-looking positions that may appear too painful to perform. Gym ball exercises will put some of your body parts in suspended positions. Although this might be the case, gym ball exercises are still effective and safe to do. The pain that you will mostly feel is "the good kind of pain", as most gym buffs would say.

Gym Ball Exercises are a great alternative to other workouts

Gym ball exercises are not as complicated as they look. Most of what will be done are regular routines wherein the gym ball is incorporated to add more resistance to the workout and to experience more burn. Compared to exercising on a workout machine where you will only target certain areas of your body, gym ball exercises target more muscle areas, including your core.

Cheaper Compared to Exercise Machines

Looking into it, you can save a lot more cash rather than getting some complicated exercise machine. They cost considerably less since there are not a lot of parts to be attached. It's just a big ball made to make your exercises a lot more effective.

Truly, gym balls are beneficial. If you still find these advantages inadequate, here are a few gym ball exercises that have been proven effective and quite easy.

On-Ball Balance

This should be the first exercise that you have to perform. Before anything else, balance has to be the most important aspect of your workout. You need to know how to control all the weight in your body. Put your arms on the ground with your torso lying on the ball. Then pull your legs up and make them stand still in mid-air. Do this for thirty seconds. You'll notice that when you're in this position, a lot of control needs to be done in order to not fall down.

Elevated Push-Ups

One of the more recognizable of exercises, elevated push-ups are just like regular push-ups, though done on a ball to make it more challenging. With its level of difficulty, it is not advisable that beginners try this one out immediately.

When performing this, you need to put yourself in a usual push-up position. Then you put both your feet onto the ball. Do your push-ups accordingly. About ten to fifteen reps will do for at least four to five sets. You can do more if you feel like it.

Trunk Extension

For the trunk extension, you need to bend down on your knees with the ball supporting your trunk. Put your hands to the side of your head with your arms bent across. From there, bend your torso downward and into the ball and then pull it back. Do this repetitively until you do fifteen reps on four to five sets.

There are more gym ball exercises available, and each of them is made to target specific areas of your body. In no time, you will see how effective the gym ball can be for your body.

If you would like to know more click on WEIGHT TRAINING FOR MEN below

Joe J Jackson is a highly successful freelance writer and the author of Weight Training For Men